Tanev, Alexander

Tanev, Alexander, Bulgarian composer and teacher; b. Budapest (of Bulgarian parents), Oct. 23, 1928; d. 1996. He studied law at the Univ. of Sofia (1946-50) and composition with Veselin Stoyanov at the Bulgarian State Cons, in Sofia (graduated, 1957). He was a teacher of composition at the latter institution (from 1970), and dean of the faculty of composition and conductor (from 1986). He also served as secretary of the Union of Bulgarian Composers (1972-76).

Works

dramatic: Prasnik v Tsaravets (Festival of Tsaravets), ballet (1968); Gramada, music drama (1977). ORCH.: Sinfonietta (1959); Youth Concerto for Violin and Strings (1969); Rondo concertante for Trombone and Orch. (1971); Concerto for Brass and Percussion (1972); Builder’s Music for 2 Pianos and Orch. or Percussion (1974); Divertimento concertante for Piano and Orch. (1976); Capriccio for Symphonic and Wind Orchs. (1986); Concerto for Strings (1988). VOCAL: 3 oratorios: Annals of Freedom for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1975-76), Testament for Bass, Reader, Chorus, Children’s Chorus, and Orch. (1977-78), and Native Land for Bass, Reader, Chorus, Children’s Chorus, and Orch. (1984-85); The Way Is Fearful but Glorious, symphonic poem for Bass-baritone and Orch. (1979); 3 cantatas: In Praise of the Song about Damiancho for Women’s Chorus and 2 Pianos (1981), In Praise of the Rila Monastery for Bass, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1982), and The Song of Songs for Tenor, Bass, and Orch. (1983); song cycles. OTHER: Chamber music; piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire